Lyric Arts had a chance to interview Alec Fisher , who is performing as Rudy Pazinski in Over the Tavern. Read on to hear what he has to say about his experience thus far!
LA: Tell us a little bit about why this particular show interested you?

AF: This show interested me because it had a strong 12 year old character.

LA: For those who unfamiliar with Over the Tavern can you tell us about the show?

AF: This show is about a troubled family in the 1950’s in which 12 year Rudy starts questioning his religion.

LA: Talk about the character that you play in Over the Tavern. How have you developed this character?

AF: Rudy comes across as a smart alec but he’s really not. He’s actually a thinker who feels that God put us here to have fun and questions why we’re not.

It hasn’t been too difficult to develop this character since Rudy is actually pretty close to my own personality.

LA: Why should people come and see Over the Tavern

AF: Over the Tavern is a dramady so it appeals to people who like dramas as well as people who like comedies. Also, it really makes you think.

LA: Talk about your fellow cast members, how do you see their characters developing? Any that you are particularly amazed at?

AF: This cast seems to work well together and the show has come together rapidly. Everybody did a great job of learning their lines quickly so we could move on to working on the timing and emotion.

LA: What do you feel are the "wow" elements of Over the Tavern?

AF: How it ends, how everything gets resolved and I can’t say more without giving away the ending.

LA: Tell us what is something that you are particular excited about this show coming to together? For example, a certain scene, costumes, set, lights, etc?

AF: There is no certain scene or element separate from the others but more how it all comes together in the end that excites me.

LA: Do you have any rituals or things you do to prepare to go on stage when you are performing?

AF: I really don’t. I just hope for the best.

LA: Why do you choose to spend time at Lyric Arts?

AF: Lyric Arts was where I first tried theater and I’ve had a lot of fun here.

LA: What is your favorite way to spend your free time? As your character in the 1950’s, how would you spend your free time?

AF: Lately, with this great weather I’ve been going to the park which is probably what Rudy would have done in the 1950’s.

LA: What is your dream character to play on stage?

AF: I don’t really know. You never know what’s out there until it comes. I’d never heard about Rudy and Over the Tavern until Lyric Arts did it. There are a lot of plays I haven’t read yet.

LA: Please tell us a little bit about yourself?

AF: I’m 11 years old and I spend most of my free time doing theatre. I recently got a puppy named Zoey that I love dearly and play with every day before rehearsal.

We met Emily and Monica Swinney after a performance of Wait Until Dark and we were struck by their story as a military family. They had planned as a family to attend Christmas in the Airwaves t Lyric Arts in December 2015 ut were left with one empty seat when Adam was unexpectedly called away to serve.

This year, they had hoped he would be home to see Christmas Story, ut unfortunately, he is currently serving in Iraq. Emily and Monica plan to attend the show on closing weekend. So, we wanted to take a moment to tell their story in recognition of all that military families do in service of our country. Here is their story.

As the holiday season begins, we wanted to take a moment to say thanks to all those who are giving to Lyric Arts by volunteering their time. We have a very busy season with two holiday shows and we asked Gina Sauer to share her thoughts about our volunteers as well as what are needs at this December.

It is that time of year when we come to you and ask for your support through individual donations. Give to the Max Day 2016 is coming up this week (Thursday, Nov. 17) and we are asking all of you to help us rally support to help achieve our goals!

This year, we are celebrating our 21st season and as you may have read already in our blog entitled #LyricArtsIsLegal, we are growing fast and we need the funds to keep pace with that growth.

Therefore, we thought it would be fun to center our fundraising campaign goals around the number 21. We have sent some big goals for our year-end fundraising campaign but we are confident that the love and passion for our theater runs deep and that our supporters will heed the call and rise to the challenge.

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." But wait! A mouse is stirring, because Santa missed his house last year. Before you can say "Merry Christmas!” we're off on a wild adventure involving a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl who just won't take no for an answer.

Lyric Arts has turned 21, we have now reached “adulthood” and we are officially legal.

“Saying, ‘We’ve turned 21, so now we are legal,’ started as a joke amongst staff members. But, it has really struck a chord with our community of artists and audiences because, in some ways, it is a really accurate description of where we are as a theater company. Lyric Arts has come out of its adolescence and is beginning the next step in its development. It’s our early adulthood,” says Laura Tahja Johnson, Lyric Arts’ Executive and Artistic Director.

Humorist Jean Shepherd's memoir of growing up in the Midwest in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher, and even Santa Claus himself, at Higbee's Department Store. The consistent response: "You'll shoot your eye out!"

REVIEW: Cherry and Spoon recently visited Lyric Arts to see Always... Patsy Cline. Here is what she had to say: "The new production at Lyric Arts in Anoka is perfectly cast, full of heart, and highly entertaining for anyone whose ever heard Patsy's music, and let's face it - who hasn't?"

Find out what else Cherry and Spoon thought of the show and watch a video featuring Gracie Anderson and Catherine Battocletti talking about "Capturing Cline."

In just over a week, Gracie Anderson will take the stage as Patsy Cline in Always... Patsy Cline opening Friday, October 14. It will be the sounds of Gracie's voice that fills the stage and brings audiences back in time to reminisce about how these Patsy Cline classics came to life.

We invite you to take a look at a top ten list of Patsy Cline songs and tell us your favorite. And to get you started on that journey down memory, please watch our video with Lyric Arts alum, Kate Beahan singing a beautiful medley.

Lyric Arts

Lyric Arts Main Street Stage, located in the heart of historic downtown Anoka, offers a full season of live theater (including musicals, dramas, comedies, and children’s productions) and intimate live music events as part of their “Music in the ‘Burbs” Concert Series.

The Main Street Stage (formerly the Anoka Cinema Building) was fully renovated in 2001 and features free parking, a warm and welcoming environment, and a cozy 228-seat bowl-style theater with comfortable stadium seating—there isn’t a bad seat in the house!

Lyric Arts’ lobby boasts a concession stand and bar, serving wine, beer, candy, soft drinks, fresh-popped popcorn, Caribou Coffee, and other hot beverages, all of which you can take right into the theater with you.